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“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

For The Cause of Christ

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every ChapterDate: Sunday, December 02, 2018Chapters: I Corinthians 9-11Message: For The Cause of Christ

Hello My Friend,

Probably one of the biggest questions we have as Christians is why God wants us to be right in the mist of this wicked and evil world when we are not to be a part of it. And let me tell you, the closer you get to Christ the less you want to be in the world. In fact, it is down right appalling to you when you see some of the things they do and even hear how they talk. There is a reason for going out there, and that reason is to bring Christ to them. Since Jesus is in the church, and they do not go to the church, Jesus sends us out there to go and get them. “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” – John 17:13-15.

“that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” There really is no better feeling in the world than to know that you are with Christ and He is with you. And while we would like to die in the hands of someone else, we certainly know where we will be. When you have a relationship with Christ you truly understand the joy that only comes through Him as we endure some of the most trying things. I have always had this gift that enables me to adapt to my environment rather quickly, and although I never fit in with the people I had to be around I had no problem handling the role I was given. How many people can say that they plated aircraft parts and bagged groceries? You know? The closer we get to Christ the more roles He gives us, and He will place us anywhere He needs us for one reason, to be a walking, talking minister of the Gospel, without even giving one line of Scripture. Paul stresses to the Corinthians the importance of not only being a minister of the Gospel, but living it.

“For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” – I Corinthians 9:9-14,20-23.

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” You see? We are put in the places we need to be in, and learn to adapt to that enironment so that we can reach the lost to Christ. We must admit it, no one comes to church on their own, they have to be invited, and then God will take care of the rest. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” – I Corinthians 3:5-6.

Everything we do for God needs to be done willingly, especially when it comes to preaching the Gospel, we are speaking on behalf of Christ, therefore, we are to not only believe in, but are to live the Gospel as well. And we are to never think that the things we do for God are for our own glory, we are blessed for our willingness to serve Him. Since everything we do reflects Christ, that means if we are living our lives only to please our flesh than we are not only making Him look bad, but other Christians as well. Think about it, we are all one body of Christ, that means we cannot blend in with the world, and if we try to it brings consequences.

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” – I Corinthians 10:21-23,27-33.

“are we stronger than he?” Christ is our strength to overcome the world, and the devils attempt to get us to stop letting the world see the true Christ. You know, the devil can care less if we are saved or not, he is out to make sure that we never represent Christ in a good way. People get caught committing crimes every day and it is no big deal, but the second a person from a church gets caught the media and everyone else is exposing and exploiting it. Our only power and strength against the devil is Jesus, if we are living a sinful life we lose that power, we cannot get saved and do the things of the world, it will only cause us pain. Paul reminds us that we are all joined together by Christ’s body and blood, and need to take that seriously.

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” – I Corinthians 11:26-32.

“we are chastened of the Lord,” We must understand that we are saved by the grace of God through our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we cannot make light of that. The Lord’s Supper is an observance that many churches participate in today, the purpose of it is to remind those who are saved why they are saved. The Corinthians distorted this observance first by including it in with a normal feast, and second, denying the poor to partake of it. Those who are not saved and participate in this observance will be chasten by God, the sad thing, many never realize it is God and suffer needlessly. We must examine ourselves, to see if we living our lives in a way that glorifies God, and if we are, acknowledging Him through it. We are to glorify God in all things, the good, the bad, and the ugly, just like Jesus does. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” – I Peter 2:20-21.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” – I Corinthians 10:14.

Today’s Prayer: God, I want to thank You for Your goodness in supplying all my needs. Certainly You have blessed me with physical blessings such as food, clothing, shelter, an awesome job, but You also shower me with spiritual blessings as You allow me to serve You. Lord, I want my testimony to be an example of Your life changing, all sufficient, and all sustaining mercy, grace, and love to all who need to know Your Son. Lead me and guide me, make me who You need me to be, let me accept and acknowledge all Your blessings, and let me forever praise You for You are good even when You take things away, for even they are blessings. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.